Access Board Meetings Online: Community members can stay informed by watching every board meeting on our YouTube channel, MCPASD TV. In the recap below, we have provided timestamps for the various sections of the meeting. These will help you follow along and jump directly to the parts of the video that interest you the most.
Superintendent's Report - In her report, Superintendent Dr. Dana Monogue congratulated all winter sports athletes and coaches on a successful season!
She also encouraged families to participate in our Annual Family Engagement Survey, which is currently open. Families’ feedback is invaluable in helping us improve as a school district. The survey closes on March 28. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts! Take the survey here: Survey Link
Dr. Monogue also expressed her gratitude to Governor Tony Evers for visiting Sunset Ridge Elementary on March 7, following an invitation from teacher Chris Rago. With spring break next week, she wished everyone safe travels or a relaxing and memorable staycation!
A Cardinal's Journey - Portrait of a Graduate Update - Over the past several months, a dedicated team of stakeholders — including high school students, parents, community leaders, educators, and administrators — has worked to develop a Portrait of a Graduate system for MCPASD. This framework is designed to define the key skills, competencies, and attributes that students should develop by the time they graduate.
Superintendent Dr. Dana Monogue, alongside members of the workgroup, presented the framework, which was the result of five months of collaboration and five intensive meetings. Special shoutout to Superintendent Monogue and Board Member Bartlett Durand for facilitating all five meetings with the team!
Throughout the process, the team engaged in community-building exercises, analyzed 15 exemplar systems from across the country (and one AI-generated model), and explored best practices — drawing special insights from the work of Mesa, Arizona, school district. Additionally, the team brainstormed visual representations to encapsulate the framework.
In addition to the full-team meetings, two focused groups were formed: one dedicated to refining the language and wording of the framework, and the other focused on developing the visual representation of the system.
The result is "A Cardinal's Journey," a system structured into two key components:
Cardinal Mindset – Four key dispositions essential for personal growth and adaptability.
Cardinal Foundations – Four critical skills, supported by rubrics and defined micro-skills to guide student development.
The framework will be integrated into various aspects of student learning and development, including:
Curriculum renewal processes
Report cards
Academic and career planning
Student-led conferences
Learner profiles,starting in grade 6
Advisory lessons
Individualized student advising
Family communications
This comprehensive framework is designed to ensure that every student graduates with the essential skills and dispositions for future success, making a meaningful and lasting impact in our schools and in our community.
4K and Early Childhood Update - 4K & EC Principal Katie Kavanaugh, Director of Special Education Cindy Malcheski, 4K & EC Interventionist Gina Steele, and Deputy Superintendent Sherri Cyra updated the Board on the 4K and Early Childhood programs, the 4K program evaluation, and the District’s Child Find initiative.
The MCPASD 4K program is a voluntary, 2.5-hour, play-based program for students who are four years old by September 1. It follows a developmentally appropriate curriculum aligned with Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards. The program is delivered through a community-collaborative model with eight community-based sites and one District site, the Early Learning Center (ELC). All sites hire DPI-licensed teachers and participate in monthly professional development focused on curriculum standards, social-emotional learning, behavior strategies, and literacy skills. Starting in Spring 2025, professional development will also include AIMSwebPlus testing, as required by Act 20.
Enrollment trends show that MCPASD enrolls a lower percentage of kindergarten students in its 4K program (64-71%) compared to other Dane County districts (84-95%). For the 2024-2025 school year, 160 out of 393 kindergarten students did not attend MCPASD 4K. A survey sent to non-participating families revealed a variety of reasons, with some families choosing private 4K programs inside or outside the District. To better meet family needs, MCPASD is exploring a full-day 4K pilot program at the ELC for the 2026-2027 school year. This pilot would focus on Title I school attendance areas and include wrap-around care to better support working families.
The Early Childhood (EC) program serves 3- and 4-year-old children with disabilities who require special education services. The program currently offers 2.5-hour sessions, three times per week, and added a session in January 2025 to meet growing demand. Instruction is provided by specialized educators, supported by speech-language, occupational, and physical therapists. The EC program also includes a specialized Phonology Program for 3 to 5-year-olds with speech sound disorders. This intensive speech therapy, using the Cycles Approach, currently supports 10 children. Early intervention provided by this program is critical for supporting language development, communication skills, and future academic success.
The District’s Child Find initiative conducts monthly developmental screenings to identify children who may need early intervention. As of March 2025, 49 evaluations have been completed or are underway. This proactive approach ensures that students with developmental delays are identified early and receive the necessary support to thrive. To further enhance inclusivity, the EC program plans to integrate peer models into classrooms starting in the 2025-2026 school year. This inclusion will enhance social modeling, ease transitions to 4K, and align with practices from other Dane County districts. The proposed model would also provide a low-cost or scholarship-based opportunity for 3-year-olds to participate, strengthening early connections with the District and encouraging long-term enrollment.
Family engagement is another key focus. MCPASD recognizes that parents and caregivers are essential partners in children's learning. The District supports family involvement through monthly newsletters, informational nights, and consistent outreach. These efforts ensure that families are informed, engaged, and empowered to support their children's learning journey. This proactive communication builds trust and helps families feel connected and supported.
The District’s collaboration with community childcare providers is another important element. These partnerships provide accessible, high-quality early education and offer flexibility for families, including options for wrap-around care. MCPASD supports these sites through ongoing professional development, site visits, and curriculum alignment to ensure consistency and quality. For families, this means their children can access strong educational foundations regardless of the site they choose.
Finally, MCPASD’s commitment to data-driven decision-making stands out. By evaluating enrollment trends, understanding barriers to participation, and exploring innovative models like full-day 4K, MCPASD is dedicated to meeting the evolving needs of the community. These proactive steps are designed to make early learning programs more accessible, responsive, and effective. This community-centered approach not only supports the academic and social development of young learners but also reinforces MCPASD’s role as a leader in early childhood education.
Overall, this comprehensive update reflects the District’s dedication to enhancing both the 4K and EC programs through strategic planning, inclusive practices, and a focus on high-quality, accessible early education. These efforts aim to support the District’s youngest learners, strengthen family and community engagement, and set the foundation for long-term student success.
Middle Level Report - Glacier Creek Principal Ken Metz, Kromrey Principal Dom Ricks, Glacier Creek Associate Principal Mary Summers Kern, Kromrey Associate Principal Eric Engel, Director Jan Chynoweth, and Deputy Superintendent Sherri Cyra provided an update on the strategic continuous improvement work, collaborative learning, and professional development at our two middle schools.
The middle level's focus includes improving literacy, supporting teacher collaboration, promoting social-emotional learning (SEL), and adjusting the middle school schedule. A key highlight is the implementation of the Savvas myView (5th grade) and myPerspectives (6-8th grade) literacy curricula. The goal is for each student to meet or exceed the 50th Student Growth Percentile (SGP) on the STAR reading test or meet goals outlined in their Individualized Education Plans (IEPs). Early data shows an increase in STAR reading scores, with notable gains among traditionally underserved student groups. This progress is attributed to student engagement, staff dedication, instructional coaching, and collaborative work through C3 (co-plan, co-serve, and co-learn) Teams. Encouragingly, early implementation of the new literacy curriculum did not result in an expected "implementation dip," but instead showed positive trends in student growth.
Professional development has been a focus, with staff participating in both professional practice and content-specific learning strands. Topics have included educational technology, support for multilingual learners, classroom management, and subject-specific instruction. This approach allows for collaboration and learning that is tailored to staff needs and interests. Professional development has also emphasized collective efficacy, encouraging staff to work together with the shared belief that they can positively impact student learning — a key driver for academic growth.
Additionally, social-emotional learning (SEL) is a priority, with plans for all middle school teaching staff to be trained in Responsive Classroom principles during the 2025-2026 school year. Preliminary training has already begun for some staff. This approach supports students in developing essential social and academic skills and will help enhance student belonging and engagement. In preparation, current universal practices include morning advisory meetings, positive behavior reinforcement, and tiered supports. The schools are also seeing strong student engagement outside the classroom. Glacier Creek offers 52 clubs and sports, while Kromrey offers 43, with more than 2,400 students enrolled in extracurricular activities. These programs foster belonging, engagement, and leadership development.
Upcoming Schedule Changes for Fall 2025
A key part of the update was the planned middle school schedule changes for Fall 2025. These changes are designed to increase instructional time, reduce daily transitions, and help prepare students for high school.
Key updates include:
Longer Class Periods: Math and English Language Arts (ELA) classes will be extended to at least 55 minutes per session. This change is meant to allow more time for student learning and to support teachers in delivering the curriculum more effectively.
Fewer Transitions: The new schedule will reduce the number of daily class transitions. This is intended to help students stay focused and maximize learning time.
Alignment with High School: The schedule will be more in line with the high school structure, supporting students as they move into higher grades.
Support for Academic and Career Planning (ACP): The schedule will also provide more opportunities for students to engage in ACP activities. Students will consider questions like, "Who am I?" "Where am I going?" "How do I get there?" and "What can I do right now?" to help identify their interests and future goals.
The leadership team also acknowledged the work of deans, special education coordinators, and instructional coaches who support these initiatives and contribute to the schools' continuous improvement. Their collaborative work is essential to creating positive learning environments and supporting student growth.
Overall, these updates reflect ongoing efforts to enhance learning, increase engagement, and support student development at Glacier Creek and Kromrey Middle Schools.
WASB Day at the Capitol Recap - Board Vice President Bob Green and Board Member Jim Coursey attended the Wisconsin Association of School Boards’ Day at the Capitol and provided a brief recap to the Board.
Key discussions focused on increasing special education funding, with the Governor proposing a 60% reimbursement rate and DPI suggesting 90%. Concerns were also raised about ensuring school funding keeps pace with inflation, with WASB advocating for future adjustments tied to the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
Board members met with local legislators, including Rep. Alex Joers, Sen. Dianne Hesselbein, and Rep. Mike Bare, to discuss district funding challenges.
Takeaways for MCPASD included preparing for potential budget delays, increasing community awareness around funding issues, and beginning discussions about future referendum needs.
Items for Approval
Approval of Youth Center Agreement with City of Middleton - At the March 3, 2025, Regular Meeting, Administration and the City of Middleton presented an overview of the Youth Center program and the request for an amended agreement. Administration recommended approval of the amended agreement, and the Board approved the item.
Approval of Board Meeting Calendar for 2025-2026 - The Board also approved the Board of Education meeting schedule for the 2025-2026 school year.
First Reading of Policy Revisions - The Board approved the revisions to these policies after thorough discussion at the Policy Committee level. Following multiple reviews, the Board approved the first reading and will present it at the next Board meeting for a second reading to finalize the revisions.
Dissolution of Dane County School Consortium - The Board voted to authorize Superintendent Dana Monogue to provide the Dane County School Consortium with 90 days' notice of withdrawal.
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